brown



(N0 Model.)

J. WBR0WN- GENTRIEUGAL GOVERNOR FOR STEAM ENGINES.

W'w/fmf J70/6226021 Wray/20.

t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. BROVN, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR TO W'ILLIAM VILSON SUTOLIFFE, OF SAME PLACE.

CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,726, dated March 1.8, 1890.

Application filed October 19, 1889- Serial No. 327,5'53. (No model.)

VTo all whom t may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN WILLIAM BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Or1eans,in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Governors for Steam-Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to and consists in certain novel improvements in the construction of governors for steam-engines, and the purpose thereof is to provide means whereby an adjustment may be made of the operative parts to adapt the governor to the varying requirements resulting from differences in speed and working pressure.

It is the object of my invention, in other words, to combine with a centrifugal governor means whereby it may be easily and quickly adjusted to maintain anyprequired working speed, according to the circumstances of the case. It is my purpose, also, to provide a steamgovernor which is operated by the direct action of the steam as it passes to the engine, in

contradistinction to those governors in which rotary movement is caused by gearing deriving its motion from a shaft.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafterfully described, and then pointed out in the claims following this specification.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my said invention, I will describe the same in detail, reference being had to the ac-l companying drawings, in which-n Figure 1 is aview in elevation of a governor embodying said invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the portal chamber. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the wheel-chamber upon the line o@ Fig. l.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 denotes the portal chambenwhich is prov vided with a liange 2, by which it is bolted to the steam-chest of the engine. Within the said chamber are steamways 3 and 4t, having the usual construction and arrangement, the

entrance thereto being controlled by valves 5 and 6, said valves being mounted upon a vertical stein 7. This stem passes up through a diaphragm 9, through which it is packed by a gland 10. Above the portal chamber is arranged the intermediate chamber 12, the two being connected by means of bolts passing through flanges 13, and surmounting the latter chamber is thc circular wheel-chamber 14, whichis provided with a li ve-steam port 15. The wheel-chamber consists of a space inclosed by two concentric circular walls 16 and 17, separated by an annular passage 18, into which the port 15 opens. The inner wall 1S is provided at suitable intervals with passages 19 for the steam,which enters the wheelchamber in" the direction of rotation of the wheel 20, which is provided with blades or wings 2l, having an approximately radial arrangement, but slightly curved to present concave surfaces to the entering jets of steam.

The hub of the wheel 20 consists of a sleeve 22, lying inthe top of the wheel-chamber. Through this sleeve passes a pipe 23, which is slipped over the valve-stem 7 and extends entirely through the 'wheel and down into the intermediate chamber 12. The hub or sleeve 22 of the wheel is connected tothe pipe 23 by means of a set-bolt 24, tapped through the sleeve and bearing against said pipe, whereby the wheel is sustained within its chamber, and whereby, also, the pipe is compelled to revolve with it. A sleeve 22a is tapped into a plate 25, arranged just above and forming the top of the wheel-chamber, to

which it is fastened by bolts 26, said sleeve surrounding the pipe 23. Turned upon the threaded end of said sleeve is a collar-nut 27, which closelysurroundsthe pipe 23 and forms a close joint between the same and the upper end of the sleeve. Y

Rising from the sides of the plate 25 isa yoke-frame 2S, the three members thereof approaching each other as they rise and uniting with a pedestal 29, which is firmly supported by said yoke-frame. Upon this pedestal rests a disk 30, having a boss 3l, both disk and boss, as well as Vthe pedestal, being provided with a central opening, through which the pipe 23, together with the valve-stem 7, passes. A set-screw 32, tapped through the boss 31 and IOO ` suitable and uniform intervals.

bearing upon the pipe, causes both to rotate in unison. At a suitable distance above the disk is a second disk 33, provided with a sleeve 34, whichis mounted upon the upper portion of the pipe 23, a collar-nut or packing-nut being mou'ntedon the end of the pipe 23,above the top of the upper disk, through which the end of the pipe may pass, while the valvestem .7 passes through the packing-nut and is prolonged to extend above the same.

The two disks 30 and 33 are connected by two, three, or more elastic plates of spring metal, the preferable number being ive. Each connection thus composed of a series of plates of spring metal has its respective ends bolted'to the edges of the disks 30 and 33 at Upon these v spring-connections 36, midway between the disks, are mounted the centrifugal governorballs 36a. Between the end of the sleeve 34, which drops from the. disk 33, and a collar 37, rising from or resting on the boss 31, a powerful spring 38 is coiled, its tension being so adjusted that when the governor is not in motion it will separate the disks 30 and 33 far enough to draw the centrifugal governorballs 36 toward the axis of rotation, or against the coiled spring 38. Mounted upon the upper disk 33 isan arched yoke 39,which spans the central portion of the disk, rising above it, as shown in Fig. 1. This yoke is provided with a sleeve or thimble 40, which receives a thimble 41, provided with a collar 42, resting against the lower end of the sleeve 40, and having an externally-threaded end rising above said sleeve.

The valve-stem 7 passes through the thimble 41 and its sleeve, being adjustably connected with the same by a nut 43, turned on the threaded end of the stem above the thimble, which is fastened by a nut 44.

When live steam is admitted through the port 15, it hashes into the annular space 18, whence it enters the wheel-chamber through the passages 19, whereby rotation is imparted to the wheel 20, the steam passing from the wheelchamber through the intermediate chamber to the portal chamber. The rotary movement of the wheel is communicated from the sleeve or stem 22 of the wheel to the pipe 23, and from the latter to the disks 30 and 33, thereby whirling the centrifugal weights or balls mounted on the springs or elastic connections between thel disks. As the rapidity of the movement increases, the governor-balls 36 are separated radially from the axis of the valve-stem by the centrifugal force, which is in a certain ratio to the speed. This separation of the centrifugal balls necessarily causes the disks 30 and 33 to approach each othergfbut as onel of these disks is fixed, save as to its rotary movement, itv is evident that the other must have a compensating vertical movement, and the valve-stem 7 being attached to or connected with'the movable disk, it is evident that the displacement of the latter produced by the variations in 23, it is evident that by adjusting the nut 41 and lever-nut 42 either upward or downward on the threaded portion of said stem the position of the valve carried by the stem may be varied while th`e governor is at rest, andv thus the centrifugal devices may be caused to respond to any special requirements as to the working speed or head of steam to be carried.

may use any desired number of steampassages 19 as well as any preferred number of wings or blades upon the wheel. I prefer, however, to use an even number of such passages or ports-such as four, six, or eightand an odd number of wings or blades on the wheel, such as seven, &c.

What l claim isl. ln a steam-governor, the combination, with a valve-stem, of a pipe surrounding the same, a wheel keyed or secured to said pipe and having wings or blades, centrifugal balls mounted on expansible and collapsible supports which are rotated by the pipe, an adjustable connection between the upper support and the valve-stem, and means whereby the steam passing to the engine shall rotate said wheel by its direct action, substantially as described.

2. In a steam-governor, the combination, with a wheel revolved by the impact of the steam flowing to the steam-chest, of a valvestem surrounded by a pipe on which said wheel is mounted, centrifugal devices responding to the speed of rotation and carried by connections attached to disks, one of which is movable upon the pipe surrounding the valve-stem, an elastic separator interposed between said disks, and means for varying the position ofthe valve-stem, substantially as described. Y

3. In a steam-governor, the combination, with awheel-chamber having an annular wall provided with openings which deliver the steam toward points between the center and circumference of the wheel, of a wheel having blades receiving the impulse of the steam, a

portal chamber, a valve-stem' carrying the portal valves, a pipe surrounding the stem and locked with a sleeve or hollow stem on the wheel, a pair of disks rotated by the said pipe, spring or elastic connections between said disks, each connection composed of a series of spring-plates carrying the governor-balls, a

IOO

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spring separating the disks, and means for f varying the position of said valve-stem, substantially as described. e

4. In a steam-governor, the combination, with a wheel rotated by the impact of the steam and having a sleeve or stem locked to the valve-stem passing therethrough, of a disk rigid upon said pipe, a disk movably mounted thereon, leaf-springs connecting said disks and carrying the governor-balls, a coiled spring separating said disks, and means for upper diskand having a sleeve, and a valve stem passing up through the pipe, and having its threaded end projecting through and adf j ustably fastened in said sleeve by nuts above and below, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ai-HX my signature in presence of two Witnesses. n

AJOHN W. BROWN. Witnesses: f

B. ARMBRUSTER,

PERCY D. PARKS. 

